Who is Billy Ray Cyrus

With the release of Home at Last, his first disc since "Hannah Montana" made him a TV star, Billy Ray Cyrus has made a lovely album that doesn't lack for substance. Home is as welcoming as a cozy cottage in the woods; instead of carrying on with the maverick country-guy vibe he created for 2006's acclaimed but largely overlooked Wanna Be Your Joe, he settles into an adult-contemporary frame of mind, lacing three compositions he wrote or co-wrote around a handful of classic covers ("Over the Rainbow," "Put a Little Love in Your Heart," "Brown Eyed Girl") and a batch of John Mellencamp-worthy folk-pop. In addition to finding a few recognizable themes (bonus track "Stand," for example, is a pitch for living a principled life), Hannah fans will fall for "Ready, Set, Don't Go," a dad-to-daughter song that sweetly underscores the love in Cyrus' real-life heart. --Tammy La Gorce

Inspirational songs from today's top country artists.

No matter how you feel about the pride of Flatwoods, Kentucky, you've got to give him credit for sheer grit. An embarrassment to Nashville after his Chippendalesish (and hugely popular) line-dancing anthem "Achy Breaky Heart" (1992), the mullet-wearing Billy Ray Cyrus went on to make credible music (1993's mostly ignored It Won't Be the Last) before segueing into acting (Doc, Hannah Montana). Yet on Wanna Be Your Joe, an album he largely wrote or co-wrote, Cyrus doesn't do himself many favors. The quality of writing never reaches the upper tiers, and several of the songs come across as rough demos instead of fully produced cuts. His slim baritone, once gravelly and testosterone-pumped, is dry as a stump, and the hunger and passion that drove his earlier recordings also seems to slumber, whether he's paying tribute to his heroes (Dale Earnhardt, Ronnie Van Zant) or pondering lost loves. Cyrus shows his sense of humor in referencing his former hairstyle ("I Want My Mullet Back," a rootsy rock excursion), and hits all the working-class touchstones (the loving husband/father of the promising title cut, the blue-collar protest of exorbitant fuel costs of "A Pain in the Gas"). But the album never really catches fire until he brings on the guests: George Jones and Loretta Lynn for the down-home "Country Music Has the Blues" and daughter Miley for "Stand." Just as in the plots of his TV series, on Wanna Be Your Joe, friends and family save the day. --Alanna Nash

Everyone knows the name of the colossal single from Billy Ray Cyrus' record-breaking 1992 album "Some Gave All" - the infamous "Achy Breaky Heart" (which also inspired a line dance craze). And since then, Billy Ray has enjoyed great success as not only as a country music star but as a successful songwriter and actor.

In Billy's two decades long career he has achieved: - 3 #1 singles and 6 Top 10 singles in addition to the platinum and gold albums - 2 AMA awards, 1 CMA award - 6 TNN/Music City News awards - 2 MovieGuide Awards (for "Doc"): He STILL holds the record for 17 weeks at #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Chart for "Some Gave All" (the longest time this was held by a debut artist). - Has been recognized by the Kennedy Center Honors - Received the Bob Hope Congressional Medal of Honor Society Entertainer's Award - Country Radio Broadcaster's Artist Humanitarian Award - Been inducted into the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Hall of Fame

As an artist, Billy Ray Cyrus continues to create music that is close to his heart%u2026 music that rocks, can touch one's emotions, songs that are reverent and some even satirical, and all styles are evident on his CD debut release on New Door Records, "Wanna Be Your Joe."

Perhaps if Billy Ray didn't have so many "Y"s in his name, and the song he is most known for didn't end in them to make a catchy title, his life would have been different. Perhaps if Bill Cyrus had sung "My Aching Heart", he wouldn't have had such a massive hit, but would have gained the respect of the "music snobs" who trash his talent with those other "Y" words, "hokey" and "corny".
They sell him way short. He has a marvelous deep, throaty voice, an excellent songwriting gift, and an all-round ability as a performer, with a down-home funky style that makes his music interesting, heart-warming, and very enjoyable.

This CD has the feel of a live club recording, rather than a studio session, with an "up-close" sound. The band is terrific, and deserves mention: Terry Shelton, guitar / Barton Stevens, keyboards / Greg Fletcher, drums / Corky Holbrook, bass, with additional guitars by Keith Hinton and Sonny Garish (steel).
Billy Ray wrote "Someday, Somewhere, Someday", and co-wrote five others (tracks # 3, 4, 8, 9, and 10). I like the humor and musicianship in "Wher'm I Gonna Live ?" which he wrote with Cindy Cyrus, and he also wrote the patriotic hymn that is another favorite of mine with her, "Some Gave All".
His cover of Lee Hazelwood's "These Boots are Made for Walkin'" that was a hit for Nancy Sinatra in 1966 is fabulous, and one of the numbers on the CD that make great dance music.
Good songs, wonderful vocals, and a tight, skilled band all come together to make this a solid country CD, well deserving of praise. This album stayed a record 17 weeks in the # 1 spot on both Country and Pop charts, and total playing time is 36'01. -- Alejandra Vernon "artist & illustrator" (Long Beach, California)

Now this is what i call a greatest hits. 21 songs, you cant beat that.It blows the Cover To Cover hits package away.Except for the loss of "One Last Thrill" it covers all his main hits.Its a shame Billy Ray gets a bad rap all these years about his early years.I think he has blossomed into a better artist.Shame on you people who trash Billy,because back then you was singing in the car and line dancing to "Achy Breaky Heart".You all know who you are.So enjoy his music now and forever. -- Dennis Casto (Auburn,Indiana)